1. Kyle Busch (car No. 18): Atlanta could well become the first track where he gets a second career Cup victory. Last week: 2

2. Matt Kenseth (car No. 17): This team is still two-for-three in race victories. That's not a bad batting average. Last week: 1

3. Jeff Gordon (car No. 24): Being the points leader - even if it is after three races - is better than a kick in the teeth. Last week: 3

4. Greg Biffle (car No. 16): Off to very solid start. Watch Biffle at Atlanta - he tested to help pick the tires there. Last week: 5

5. Clint Bowyer (car No. 33): Doesn't seem Bowyer has had problems adapting to a new group working on his cars. Last week: 15

6. Kevin Harvick (car No. 29): This team has persevered well early. Atlanta's a place where it could make some hay. Last week: 8

7. Carl Edwards (car No. 99): Made his Ford last almost long enough at Vegas. Needs no-problem week at Atlanta. Last week: 7

8. Tony Stewart (car No. 14): Key for this team is to keep improving from the solid base it appears to have built. Last week: 4

9. Jimmie Johnson (car No. 48): Way too early to be worried about this team. It has fast cars and talented people. Last week: 6

10. Denny Hamlin (car No. 11): Took a very hard hit in the Nationwide race at Vegas as part of a very difficult weekend. Last week: 9

For the rest of the top-40 rankings, go online and visit www.thatsracin.com

NASCAR once again Sunday showed the inconsistency that drives fans nuts.

When Paul Menard wrecked on Lap 270 in a 285-lap race, Kyle Busch was leading, but there were several drivers who wanted to try to make a run at him or to improve their positions.

NASCAR had to do a lot of cleanup from Menard's mess, but officials let the laps click away until only eight remained. In similar situations in the past, NASCAR has stopped races to preserve as many laps as possible. Why not here?

It almost certainly made no difference - Busch was in command. But do it the same way every time.

It will be interesting to see what is said about the motor and other problems

Was it something fluky about this track? Are teams pushing the envelope too far without having tested to verify their development ideas? Could teams not have as many people doublechecking things as they had last year because they've had to trim payrolls?

It certainly seems something is going on.

As Kyle Busch completed his pass of Clint Bowyer for the lead on Lap 267 of Sunday's Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Fox Sports aired audio from Busch's team radio with someone saying "Good night, Gracie."

Most assumed Busch had said it, but it actually was his spotter, Jeff Dickerson, who made the remark.

Busch is only 23 and had no idea the reference was to George Burns' wife, Gracie Allen, from their historic comedy act from radio and early television.

"Is that from 'Miss Congeniality' or something?" Busch wanted to know, referring to a more recent movie in which Sandra Bullock's character had that first name.

If you hang around NASCAR for any length of time, you will hear somebody say the phrase "living the dream."

A lot of people use it as a stock sardonic reply to the idea that some people who think having a job in racing is a dream gig don't have any real

But the snow that fell earlier this week in the South, and the return trip from Sunday's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway hardly turned into a "dream" for a lot of the NASCAR folks.

Several teams delayed the departure of their own planes Sunday night trying to get into Concord, N.C., which is where most of the NASCAR air fleet is based.

Several hundred people had to spend an extra 12 hours in Las Vegas about 2,700 miles from home. Work back at the teams' shops will have to be rescheduled, and all of those people had to be fed and housed, causing the teams' additional expense.

Originally posted on David Poole's blog, "Life in the Turn Lane," available online at turn-lane.blogspot.com.